Help, Disability Question.

[mark]

When dealing with any governmental entity it is good to have some information before you start. The United States Social Security Administration has a document on-line that can assist you in determining if you may be eligible for a determination of disabled. It can be found here;

Listing of Impairments - Adult Listings (Part A)

It is called Disability Evaluation Under Social Security, also referred to by many as the Disability Blue Book. The section that covers Wegener’s Granulomatosis is Section 14.00 Immune System Disorders. I found it helpful to read the entire section but for the ones that are having a hard time concentrating, I found the following parts most useful;

14.00 Immune system disorders
B. What information do we need to show that you have an immune system disorder?
D. How do we document and evaluate the listed autoimmune disorders?
2. Systemic vasculitis
J. How do we evaluate your immune system disorder when it does not meet one of these listings?

14.03 Systemic vasculitis As described in 14.00D2

For me the disability chase started in the hospital within hours of diagnosis. I had a social worker that had many years of experience to draw from bestow upon me some wisdom that has helped me through this time in my life. Most people that are going through a drastic life changing event have a tendency to see themselves in better physical and/or mental condition than they really are. Don’t do this. First be honest with yourself and admit your life has changed. Second, when filling out paperwork tell the truth, answer the questions accurately as to the level of dysfunction you have experienced. Third, look up Wegener’s in the Blue Book. And I will add, if you meat a condition listed, use their keyword’s.

I hope some may find this useful.

[Lightwarrior]

Wow Mark, this is golden. Thank you so much for sharing such great information. I think you have just helped a number of us. You ROCK!!!

[KathyB]

This info is exactly what I referenced in my appeal with the VRS. Thanks for posting it, Mark!! (verdict is still out with my appeal, though!)

KB

[Christrd]

Hey guys. Hope you are all doing well. Here's a quick update. I felt like the disability claim was going nowhere and felt like my lawyer and Dr weren't really interested in helping me. So I decided to go back to work. I took a job here in Nebraska as a manager at a auto parts store. I would feel fine in some days. Others where not so good. My hands and feet would get numb for some reason, never happened before. I would get dizzy spells as well. December of 2014, I got one of those dizzy spells at work and had an accident. A 30lbs heavy duty Rotor fell on my foot. It felt like I had broken my big toe. Had to go to the ER and get it drilled to drain (relief pressure).
A few days later, I went in to see my specialist and found out he was gone. Now the head of the clinic was seeing me. Dr Palmer. He was very interested in my desease.
My wife made the executive decision to take me out of work due to constantly getting sick for some reason. We re applied for Disability but this time hiring a layer from Heard and Smith. They got to work right away. I was denied 3x already. In February of this year, we got a letter that stated that we will have a hearing 12 to 18 months.
Oh and anothe fun thing that happened this year. my blood pressure was being stubborn and would not drop from 130/90 and thats with 20mg of lisinoprill. So Renal Dr decided to add another pill to the equation. Was doing ok for about 3 days until our trip to target. I was walking and started to sweat a lot. My chest started to hurt. My wife looked at me and said I looked purple. She sat me down and took my pulse. ( she graduates this October to be a Nurse). I felt like a couldn't breathe. Wife took me the the ER and sure enough it was a heart attack. I was put in observation. Next day, my renal Dr came by and was speaking with the cardiologist. He came in to speak with me and asked how I was doing. Then he said to stop taking the new medication he had prescribed. I asked if that caused the heart attack but would not give me a direct answer. So yeah. I'll keep you guys up to date. Hopefully frequently so I won't write so much. Lol.

[Lilly]

Hi Christrd, My wegeners timeline and basic health with the disease is very similar to yours. Diagnosed in 1990, lived with small flares, treatments, but I was young and just pushed through the pain and I lived a basic normal life, (married in 1990) I live on the Gulf Coast, so I rode stand up jet ski (difficult, needs much balance) and kept in shape with aerobics, weights, etc. Then in 1999, moved north to central Alabama, Tuscaloosa-Birmigham area for husbands work. Throughout the entire time, I have always worked a full time job. Sometimes two. Living in our new place was a dream...we lived in the middle of the woods, 5 miles down a dirt road. I got a Jeep Wrangler and we drove for hours in the woods and explored areas and just totally enjoyed it. We lived around the corner from an old boat launch that we could use and go out on the Black Warrior River and play and boat all the time. Living a dream! Then in 2009 I started having problems with my knee. I had 3 arthoscopic surgeries but they all failed. I eventually had to have a total knee replacement. In this time, the sicker I got, the more my husband became distant. I could not do all the physical things we had done for so many years. He expected me to keep pushing along like I always had, but so much damage had been done by wegeners over the years, and my getting older, just made it hard for him to accept the changes that were happening. We divorced, I moved back to Mobile, and lived with my Parents and had my knee replacement surg. Then came the question of how would I support myself. I did have alimony of $650. a month. But I had to pay for my insurance, and copays, medication, etc. So I looked for a job, but no one would hire me. After a year I decided I would apply for disability. It was my only chance for a normal life, and being able to take care of myself. I applied, and was turned down. I did like you, I hired a disability attorney....I could tell he was completely uncertain if I would be accepted because my illness was so vague.....I did not LOOK sick. So I went through the process of getting all my last 5 years of medical records from my doctors at UAB, and all the eye surgeries, nose surgeries, sinus surgeries, (you get the idea) and my otarlarongologist (?sp?) who did bronchoscopies, and throat treatments. I wanted to be able to show the progression of my disease, and also a letter from my Rheumatologist, stating the disease is not cureable, and it is treatable but also is destructive. And you will never heal from what it does to you. My Lawyer also gave me a simple form to fill out each time I went to a doctor. Each time I went in the hospital, had surg., etc. Just to show how much I was having to truly take care of this disease, and the time was obviously too much to be able to hold down a job. I did this for a YEAR!!! I finally had my day in court. The judge sitting above me, and a recorder on the table below, where I was at, facing the judge...2 ladies on one side with computers, and another on the other side typing everything that was said. I was terrified. My arm was in a soft cast from a surg. I had recently, but other than that, I looked NORMAL.....So, the judge looked through my medical information (tons of it) and looked angry.....I was hiding my arm. I had my hands in my lap, under the table. She began asking me questions. She was questioning the many different doctors I had....and what was this illness I had. I just said it was a very rare disease, difficult to diagnose...but once I was diagnosed, I had to be monitored with bloodwork. (I kind of let her dig some of the information out of me, because I just did not want to seem like I was trying to over explain everything) She just stared at me.....and asked me what happened to my arm....I explained that I broke a tiny bone in my hand, but it wont heal because of the meds I take, so they put a tiny screw in it. She looked puzzled.....then asked about my knee. Same thing....She asked if I had looked for a job...I had, and told her my problems about that, little necessary dr visits and surgeries. I told her I was miserable, I always worked, I wanted to work again in the medical field like I always had. But I was just so tired, and I was very upset that my life had changed so much. (she mentioned my divorce...and actually asked if it was that due to my illness...kinda personal I thought, but I answered truthfully-yes) So, my Lawyer was right next to me the whole time, and he never said a word. He actually just stared at me like,.....He wondered how I was gonna get the judge to understand this insane disease, and give me, this normal looking, well groomed, young lady, approval for disability. But in 2 weeks I got the letter.....accepted for disability....going back 3 years! Wow.....surprise. So I received 3 years back pay, $2000. taken out for the Lawyer, and now I was able to afford to live on my own, and take care of myself. It was a stressful ordeal, it was not easy, but somehow it all worked out. Getting a Lawyer is your best chance to be taken seriously. Plus, honesty and years of medical information. I hope you get the disability. I felt like it was a big "D" on my forehead, like having to get disability was saying I was just a big old sicko who had to live off the government, and my life as a normal person was over. But with the support of friends and family, I realized that I deserved this disability more than lots of people who have it, and don't really need it! Also, I was able to find a part time job I went to 2 days a week at a Dr. office, verifying Insurance....I could handle that, and when you have disability, they encourage you to work, if you can, but they give you an amount that you can make a year. if you go over that, then obviously, you are not disabled! Best of luck! Blessings and Love, Lilly

[drz]

It is essential your treating physician support your claim or you have little chance of success. Social Security and private insurance have different standards and procedures for getting disability but both have hoops to jump through and safeguards (obstacles to us) to try ensure that only people who are really disabled get funds. Some private insurance consider disability as being unable to do your current or most recent employment. Others like SS view it as being unable to maintain any gainful employment. Both will often send you to their hired medical expert to verify that you meet their standards. The SS experts are usually more sympathetic than private insurances but then SS disability standards are more stringent too.

Usually a good attorney with considerable experience in the area is necessary when you get to appealing a denial.

[Christrd]

@Lilli Thank you for your inspiring words towards the Disability court date and what to expect. I really hope my lawyer does help out. I picked up my wife from class and I showed her your post. As she was reading it to her self, the words "What A D Bag" came out of her mouth. I knew what part she was at. I'm sorry you had to go through that specially in your time of need. I am a bit confused though, you said you only got $2000.00 for all three years? I would have thought they would have given you a bit more. Well, its something I guess. .

[MikeG-2012]

... you said you only got $2000.00 for all three years? I would have thought they would have given you a bit more.

If you reread, it says "$2000 for the lawyer"

[Christrd]

I think it was the period that did it for me lol. But you are right sir

[Lilly]

Hi Christrd, yes, I re-read it and that period was confusing for sure! Yes, MikeG was right, the 2000. was the Lawyers pay. I actually received a nice amount of $10,633.50 for the retro-active back pay. It went quite fast! 2000. for Lawyer, and then I was able to pay my parents back for my divorce lawyer, and paying rent for me to live in an apt. for about a year. And then, I took the rest and put it into a home that my Daddy owned, and I decided I would like to live there. So I was able to install new windows, carpet, paint, etc.....I know you are probably saying to yourself....."you don't have to tell us all your personal information about how you spent your money"....But I am just telling you because it was such a relief to be able to do all that I did! I felt terrible that my parents were having to totally support me, and being able to return that money was such a blessing for me. I had a Peace, and was able to feel independent for the first time since my X-husband fell "out of love" with me. (WHATEVER) :-D My little house turned out so cute, and it was a family effort! We all painted, (I have 3 sisters-2 live in town) and my family and friends all gave me their furniture that they were not using! Its so funny! I ended up with so much furniture! I could not use it all!! But anyway, I know that I am "long winded" and tend to tell many unnecessary details when I post. I think that is because I live alone, and since I am not able to work right now, I just don't talk to people a lot, so I just go on, and on, bla, bla, bla, lol :-) I do sing a lot around my house, and I have a terrible voice so I feel sorry for my cat! Yall take care, Blessings and Love <3